Pneumatic-despatch-tube apparatus.



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Patented Aug. 20, 190|;I

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M BARR! PNEuMATlc nsPATcH TUBE APPARATUS.

(Appl tion l d Aug 25 1900) mmm Aug. 2n, 190|.

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` M. BARRI. PNEUMATI DESPATCH `TUBE APPARATUS.,

(Application med Aug. 25, 1900.3

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PNEUMATIC DESPATCH TUBE APPARATUS.A

` (Applicativi: led Aug. 25, 1900.) (Ilo Model.)

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PHEUMATIG DESPATCH TB-E APPARATUS.

(Applicntion lod Aug. 25, 1900.) (Ilo Nudel.)

UNITED' 'STATES 'i PATENT Ormes.

MARTIN'BARRI, OF LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO LAMSON CON- SOLIDATED STORE SERVICE COMPANY, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

`PN EU MATlC-DESPATOH-TUBE APPARATUS.

SPEQIFEGATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 681,013, dated August 20, 1901.

Application led August 25,-1900. l `Serial No. 28,008. (No model.)

`T all whom it may' concern.-

Be it known that I, MARTIN BARRI, of Lowell, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new` and useful Improvements in Pneumatic-DespatchfTube Apparatus, of which the following is a speciiication.

My invention relates to improvements'in` pneumatic-despatch apparatus, and espe 1o` cially to a pressure system wherein the carriers are driven from end to end of the same tube 1n either direction by air-pressure be` hind the carriers.

The object of my invention is to cutoff the I5 air-pressure upon the discharge of the carrier at the opposite end of the line, so that the pressure is used only when carriers are being despatched. This object is accomplished by mechanism so timed in operation that upon 2o the carrier being discharged the pressure is cut off. l

My invention consists of certain novel features hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustratea construction embodying `my invention, Figure l is a side view illustrating the tube through which the carriers are sent in either direction with the despatching and 3o receiving terminalat each end. Fig. Zis a? top plan view of the despatching mechanism with the cover removed. Fig. 8 is a longitudinal central sectional View of the despatch-1 ing mechanism and of the transmission-tube.

Fig. 4 is a similar view `to Fig. 3, but show-V ing the mechanism iu position after the car-` rier has been inserted and the air-pressure admitted to drive the carrier to the opposite end of the tube. Fig.`5 is an end View with i 4o the casing partly removed. Fig. 6is a view similar to Fig. 5 and showing certain parts I in section.` Fig. 7 is a side view, partly in section, andfshowing certain operating mechanism for admitting air-pressure to drive the carrier from end to end ofthe tube.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts throughout the severalviews.

When it is desired to despatch a carrier, it is inserted into the terminal at the inlet A,

5o Figs. 1, 3, and 4, and passes down through the opening C' ofthe valve-box C into the 1), and is guided in said carriage as it raises and lowers, due to the admission and non-ad- "mission of air-pressure for drivingr the carriers. This carriage D is provided with roll- 6o ers D', which roll along the guideways E. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the links D2, pivoted to the rollers D', are pivotally connected at D3 to oppositely-arranged rocking arms D4, whic'lrextend upwardly and are secured 65 fast on -the shaft D5, passing through the valve-box C. This valve-box is provided with a closed pocket D6, through which the shaft D5 passes, and on said shaft and projecting into the closed pocket D6 is a lever F, 7o and bearing against the lower end of this lever is another forked lever G, the upper end of which is mounted loosely on the shaft G', journaled in the upright supports G2, secured to the plate G3, and said lever passes down through suitable opening in said plate. The shaft G' extends outwardly on one side and is provided with a handle G4, for a purpose hereinafter described. On this shaft G' is seat its outer end with the roll G6, mounted on Ithe pivot G7, and against the inner end of said lever G5 bears the lip G3, Fig. 7, projecting outwardly from the lever G. This lip G8 on the lever G is held in contact with the lever G5 85 by the spring G9 aro`und the shaft G4 and havingone end secured to said shaft and the other end bearing against the lever G and holding thelip G8 in contact with the lever *G5 at all times, as shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 7. In order 9o to close the valve C2, the handle G'l is moved forward toward the left from the "position shown in Fig. 3, moving with it the shaft G', to which the lever G5 is secured, and through the medium of the spring G9 the lever 95 G and lever F andthe valve C2 are moved into the position shown in full lines, Fig. 4, thereby closing the opening C' in the valveboX C which communicates With the despatch-tube B. Located within the pocket roo J and secured to the plate G3 is a plate K, provided with a hub K', within which is mounted the plunger K2, provided at its upper end with a flange K5, against which the roll G6 on the lever G5 bears. pocket J is mounted the piston-plu nger L,held in its raised position, Fig. 3, by the spring D2, and this plunger L is provided with a hollow stem L5, to which the valve L4 is secured by suitable nuts L5 and the lower one of which is provided with suitable air-openings L5, communicating with the pocket M of the valve-box C. The spring L7 tends to keep the plunger K2 in its upper position. (Shown in Fig. 3.) The ange L8 on thel stem L2 limits the downward movement of the plun ger K2 in the pocket J. The plunger K2 is provided with a series of radial openings,

K4 and with a groove K5 on the outer periphery of said plunger.

Ml is a plate covering the bottom of the valve-box C, to which the air-pressure-supply pipe M2 is connected and which communicates with the pocket M. To this plate is also secured the despatch-tube B for the transmission of the carriers. The air-supply pipe M2 extends between the terminals and 'at a convenient point is connected to an airtank m5 by the pipe M4 under suitable airpressure, and air is supplied by a suitable airpump through the pipe m5. Extending upwardly from the plate G3 and secured thereto is a curved portion N of the terminal, having an opening N for the discharge of the carriers into a suitable receptacle. Communieating with the valve-box() is a pipe H,which at its opposite end is in communication with the piston-chamber H, and within said piston-chamber is located the piston H2, having a suitable piston-rod H5, which at its outer end without the cylinder is connected by the pin H4, Working in a slot in the arm H5, secured fast on the shaft .H5, mounted in a suitable support H7, and on the opposite end of said shaft H6 and fast thereto is another arm H8, having journaled at its end the roll` On the bottom of said support-H7 there` H9. is pivoted the spring-catch O, normally held in position by the light spring P to engage with the flange K3 when the plunger K2 is depressed by thev lever G5. Mounted on the arm H8 is an adjustable set-screw P', adapted to engage t'he spring-catch O and move it away from engagement with the flange K3', so that the plunger K2 may rise from the position shown in Fig. 4 to that shown in Fig. 3 and v close the valve L4. In one end of the cylinder H is an opening P2, the area of which may be increased or diminished by adjusting the screw P5, thus controlling the time in which the air is allowed to escape from the cylinder ll/ as the piston H2 moves from the right to the left by the air-pressure from the pipe H. When the piston` H2 reaches the position shown in Fig., 4, the` arm H5 is moved from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 4, and by its connection with the arm H8 y through the shaft H6 moves the spring-catch Ofrom its engagement with the flange K3 to Within the' the position shown in Fig. 4, and the spring L7, being under tension, throws the plunger K2 upwardly, which, engaging with the arm H8, forces it upwardly and throws the arm H5 inwardly, and with it the piston-rod H3 and piston H2, to the position shown in Fig. 3, and the suction exerted by the piston in its movement draws inwardly the hollow air-inlet valve Q, and through said valve the air enters and passes through the openings Q' into the piston-chamber H' and iills said chamber with air. Upon the next operation of despatching a carrier the valve Q moves from its open position (shown in Fig. 3) to its closed position, (shown in Fig. 4,) so that as the pis ton H2 moves toward the left all the air in front of the piston H2 must pass out through the adjustable restricted opening P2. When the piston is moved toward the right, the airvalve Q moves to the position shown in Fig. 3 and again supplies said chamber H' with air. When the plunger K2 has been depressed by moving the lever G4, as previously described, the openings K4 move downwardly, Fig. 4, and open into the space K6 above the plunger L, and the air-pressure passing up from the pipe M2 through the openings L6 and through the hollow stem L5 pass out through said openings K4 into the space K5, and by reason of the piston plunger L being ot greater area than the valve L4 the plunger L moves downwardly and forces the air in the pocket J out through the opening L9 and opens the valve L4 to the position shown in Fig. 4, and the pressure passes through the opening L10 into the valve-box C and from there into the tube B, through which the carrier is driven, and at the same time acts on the bottom of the valve C2 and raises it up and holds it against its seat A', as shown in Fig. 4. vAt the same time the air passes upwardly around the closed pocket D6 and into the pipe H and passes into the piston-chamber H and forces the'piston toward the left and operates the connecting mechanism, as hereinbefore described, to allow the closing of the valve L4, as above described, after the carrier has reached the opposite end of the line, and when the spring-catch O is released `in the manner above described the plunger K2 rises from the position-shown in Fig. 4 to that shown in Fig. 3, which brings the openings K4 up into the hub K to close the communication between the pipe M2 and the chamber K6 above the piston-plunger L, and the air-pressure in said chamber passes through the groove K5 up and out above the hub K', and the spring L8, acting on the plunger L, raises said piston-plunger to the position shown in Fig. 3, and the pressure acting on the valve L4 closes said valve, and the pressure being relieved from below the valve C2 said valve drops onto its carriage D, and the spring R on the shaft D5 moves said valve to its open position, (shown in Fig. 3,) when the apparatus is in condition forthe despatch of another carrier. When the com- IOO IIO

'pressed air from` the tube M2 has passed up during the opening of the valve L4 into the pipe H, it drives the piston H2 toward the left from the position shown in Fig. 3, and the rapidity of the movement of the piston depends upon the area of the small opening at the left-hand end of the cylinder, so that in a long line the screw P2 would be adjusted so as to make the opening P2 small in order to retard the egress of the air, while in a short line the screw P2 would be adjusted to increase the area of the opening P2 to allow the air'to pass out rapidly, so that by this adjustable arrangement the flow of air from the cylinder H can be controlled to allow the carriers to travel any predetermined distance.

After a carrier has passed out at the opposite end of the line the piston H2 reaches the position shown in Fig. 4 and operates the mechanism hereinbefore described to close the valve L4 and shut off the air-pressure, thus providing for the use of the airpressure only during the transmission of carriers.

The operation is as follows: A carrier is dropped into the inlet A at the right-hand end of Fig. 1 and passes down through the opening C in the valve-box C into the despatch-` tube B, and the handle G4 is then moved to the left fromthe position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 4 and moves the valve C2 across the mouth of the tube B, as previ* ously described. This movement of closing the valve also pushes down the lever G5, fast on the shaft G', and the lever Gpushes down the plunger K2 against the tension of the spring L2. After the valve O2 has moved to its closed position (shown in Fig. 4) the spring G2 yields and allows the plunger K2 to be still `the valve L4 and allows the air-pressure to pass from the pipe M2 into the valve-box C and then into the despatch-tube B, driving the carrier, which has just been inserted, to the opposite endof the line and at the same time raising and holding the valve C2 against its valve-seat A', as shown in Fig. 4, and

upon the removal of the hand from the handle G4 the plunger K2 is held down by the spring-catch O and remains in this position, allowing `the air to drive the carrier through g the despatch-tube until said catch O is removed from the plunger K3 on the plunger K2. The carrier traveling along the tube B toward the left of Fig. 1 to the left terminal, which is identical with that shown at the right of Fig. 1, will pass out through the curved portion and through the opening N' into a suitable receptacle. At this time the piston H2 has tripped off the spring-catch O, as shown in Fig. 4, and this releasing of the plunger K2 will move the ports K4 out of alinement with the chamber Kin the upper part of the pocket J, owing to the spring L7, and will also bring the upper end of the vertical groove K5 above the hub K', and the air in the chamber K6 will escape through said groove into the casing G10 and from thence to the atmosphere, and the parts will assume the position shown in Fig. 3, as heretofore described. With the parts in the position shown in Fig. 3 the air pressure from 'the pocket M is out ed from the upper part of the pocket J, and avent is Vformed by means of the groove K5 to allow the escape of air from the chamber K6 through said groove, when the spring L2 will force the plunger L upwardly, carrying with it the valve L4, against its seat, as shown in Fig. 3, closing the opening L40 from the pocketM and preventing a further flow of air into the despatch-tube. When the air has thus ceased to flow, the pressure is removed from the valve C2, which drops onto its carriage D, and the spring R will move said valve to its normal position, as shown in Fig. 3, and at this time the apparatus is in condition to despatch another carrier.

From the above it is clear that the air in the storage-reservoir M3 is used only during the transit of the carrier from end to end of the tube, as the pressure is cut off immediately upon the arrival of the carrier at the terminal.

As shown and described, a single tube is used for the transmission of the carrier in both directions, as the terminals and operating parts at both ends may be identical.

The operation above described as taking place in the terminal at the right-hand end of Fig. 1 upon the discharge of a carrier at the left hand of Fig. 1 will likewise occur in the terminal at the left hand of Fig. 1 upon the discharge of a carrier coming from the left hand of Fig. l and discharging at the right hand of Fig. 1.

The specific construction of the valve C2 for closing the despatch-tube B is no part of my present invention, as it forms the subjectmatter of another application, filed July 10, 1901, Serial No. 67,753.

I do not limit myself to the arrangement and construction shown, as the same may be varied without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus ascertained the nature of my invention and set forth a construction embodying the same, whatIclaim as new,` and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In an apparatus of the character described, a despatchtube, a source of compressed air, a valve normally open for closing the despatch-tubeafter the insertion of the carrier, mechanism for closing said valve, a

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` pressed air, a valve normally open for closing the despatch-tube after the insertion of the carrier, mechanism for closing said valve, a valve controlling the supply of compressed air to the despatch-tube, means for holding said valve normally closed, mechanism operated by compressed air for opening said airsupply-controlling valve, means for holding said air-supply-controlling valve open, mechanism operated by compressed air to actuate said valve-holding means to release said airsupply-controlling valve to allow it to close, and adjustable means for regulating the movement of said releasing mechanism.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, a despatch-tube, a source of compressed air, a valve for closing the despatchtube after the insertion of the carrier, mechanism for closing said valve, a valve controlling the supply of compressed air to the despatch-tube, means for holding said valve normally closed, mechanism for opening said airsupply-controlling valve, means for holding said air-supply-controlling valve open, a cylinder for receiving compressed air when the air-supply-controlling valve isy open, a piston movable in said cylinder and provided with a piston-rod extending beyond the cylinder, mechanism for releasing said air-supply-controlling valve to allow it to close and operatedy by the movement of said piston driven by the compressed air admitted to said cylinder, an opening in said cylinder through which the air from the cylinder is forced by the movement ofthe piston in one direction to release the air-supply-controlling valve, and an airinlet valve adapted to open and admit air into the cylinderlupon the movement of the piston in the opposite direction upon the closing of the air-supply-controlling valve.

4. In an apparatus ot' the character described, a despatch-tube, a source of compressed air, a valve for closing the despatchtube after the insertion of the carrier, mechanism for closing said valve, a valve controlling the supply of compressed air to the despatch-tnbe,means for holding said valve normally closed, mechanism for opening said airsupply-controlling valve, means for holding said air-supply-controlling valve open,a cylinder for receiving compressed air when the airsupply-controlling valve is open, a piston movable in said cylinder and provided with a piston-rod extending beyond the cylinder,

esnois mechanism for releasing said air-supply-controlling valve to allow it to close and operated by the movement of said piston driven by the compressed air admitted to said cylinder, an opening in said cylinder through which the air from the cylinder is forced by the movement of the piston in one direction to release the air-supply-.controlling valve, means for adjusting said opening, and an air-inlet valve adapted to open and admit air into the cylinder upon the movement of the piston in the opposite direction upon the closing of the airsnpply-controlling valve.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, a despatch-tube, a source of compressed air, a valve normally open for closing the despatch-tube after the insertion of the carrier, a valve controlling the supply of compressed air, mechanism operated by compressed air for opening said air-supply-controlling valve upon the closing of the despatch-tube valve, means for holding said airsupply-controlling valve open, 'a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder operated by compressed air, mechanism operated by the movement ot' said piston for releasing said air-supply-controlling valve to allow it to close, and means for regulating the movement of said piston in said cylinder.

6. In an apparatus of the character described, a despatch-tube, a source of compressed air, a valve for closing the despatchtube after the insertion of the carrier, a valve controlling the supply of compressed air, mechanism operated by compressed air fo'r opening said air-supply-controlling valve, a catch for holding said air-supply-controlling valve open, a piston operated by compressed air, mechanism operated by the movement of said piston for moving said catch to release said air-supply-controlling valve to allow it to close, and a cylinder in which said piston is located and provided with an air-vent for controlling the escape of air in front of the piston during its movement to release said air-supply-controlling valve.

7. In an apparatus of the character described, a despatch-tube, a source of compressed air, a valve for closing the despatchtube after the insertion of the carrier, a valve controlling the supply of compressed air, mechanism operated by compressed air for opening said air-supplycontrolling valve, a catch for holding said air-supply-controlling valve open, a piston operated by compressed air, mechanism operated by the movement of said piston for moving said catch to release said air-supply-controlling valve to allow it to close, a cylinder in which said piston is located and provided with an air-vent for controlling the escape of air in front of the piston during its movement to release said airsu pply-controlling valve, and means for varying the area of said vent thereby regulating the movement of said piston.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, a despatch-tube, a source of com- IOO IIO

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pressed air, a valve for closing the despatchtube after the insertion of a carrier, a valve controlling the supply of compressed air, mechanism operated by compressed air for opening said air-supply-controlling valve, a-

\ pressed air, a valve for closing the despatchtube after the insertion of the carrier, a valve controlling the supply of compressed air, a catch for holding said air-supply-controlling valve open, a piston operated by compressed air, mechanism operated by the movement of said piston for moving said catch to release said air-supply-controlling valve to allow it to close, a cylinder in which said piston is located and provided with an air-vent for controlling the escape of air in front of the piston during its movement to release said airsupply-controlling valve, means for varying the area of said vent thereby regulating the movement of said piston, and an air-inlet Valve adapted to open to admit air into said cylinder upon the movement of the piston in the opposite direction upon the closing of said air-supply-controlling valve.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses, this 17th day of August, A. D. 1900.

MARTIN BARRI. Witnesses:

A. L. MESSER, C. A. STEWART. 

